Bangladesh world champion in 'forgery': Chief Adviser

Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus has said Bangladesh is the "world champion in forgery," stating the country will not remain a factory for such deception and must resolve to build a government that supports its people.

He made the comments on Wednesday, January 28, while inaugurating the Digital Devices and Innovation Expo 2026 and launching the website and logo for the 'Bangladesh Innovation Challenge' at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.

"Perhaps you all know this already. But I will say it again. We are the world champions in what? Forgery. Everything is fake. Many countries do not accept our passports. Fake visas, fake passports," Dr Yunus said.

"You have probably seen in the newspapers about the US visa forgeries. We have created a factory of forgery," he added.

He stated that Bangladeshis have the intelligence to commit such acts but are misusing it for wrongdoing. "Whoever knows how to forge has a lot of creativity. The question is, will they use this technology for forgery? Yes, unless we correct ourselves first."

Dr Yunus asserted, "This country will not be a factory for forgery. We do not want that. We want to stand tall in the world on our own merit. At this technology meeting today, we must resolve that we will free ourselves from forgery. We will create opportunities for young entrepreneurs. We will make a government that helps people; that is how we must proceed."

Highlighting visa complications abroad due to fraud, he recounted speaking with a minister from a Middle Eastern country which had long barred entry to all Bangladeshi citizens, not just workers. He pleaded for an exception for Bangladeshi mariners, who are leaders in the global shipping industry, to be allowed shore leave. The country later granted this concession specifically for mariners.

Dr Yunus noted this is not an isolated case, and there is a "long list" of countries with entry restrictions for Bangladeshis.

He shared the minister's firsthand experience as a reason: "I myself went to see why Bangladeshis are being rejected. The educational certificates are wrong, forged." The minister cited the example of a woman who arrived on a doctor's visa but, upon assessment, was found completely unqualified and fit only for domestic work, with all her documents being fake.